Suppose you are almost completing your end of semester or year research project. In that case, you will need to start thinking about how you can start incorporating your final touches in your academic paper. One of the things you will have to invest most of your time to learn is how to come up with the right acknowledgement for your project paper. There is no doubt that there is a lot of people who constantly worry about how to write the acknowledgement section the correct way whereas the reality is that there is no need to panic. The good thing is that with the right tips, writing that section will be a walk in the park.
It is essential to note that the acknowledgement section plays an essential role when it comes to the success of any project. Therefore, as a writer, it is important that you do not skimp through the quantity and quality of time you will need to come up with a well-written acknowledgement section. Apparently, if you are having a short project, a few paragraphs might be okay. However, a much longer project will without any doubt require a bigger acknowledgement section.
Evidence shows that even though an individual can be prolific or adept in their research field, at one point or another, they will still need help when completing their research work. For example, an individual might need assistance when it comes to gathering all the relevant information about the topic that interests them. At a later time, they will also need to give credit to those people who assisted them with completing their assignments. This is where the acknowledgement section comes in handy.
It is essential to note that the acknowledgement section, in most cases, is usually placed at the beginning of the thesis, right after the contents page section. In addition, the acknowledgement section is not supposed to be more than two pages long. Researchers believe that it does not have to be an exhaustive list of all the people that assisted in completing one activity or another. However, you should at least strive to appreciate all the people that had an important impact on your research project. The good thing is that the bigger the project, the longer your acknowledgement section will be. You might take your time to explain to the readers what or how each person assisted you to complete your paper.
The majority of the foreign students usually have difficulty when it comes to saying the words “thank you” in a way that sounds sincere and natural. Instead, they tend to use phrases or words that might sound awkward and funny, or they tend to repeat the words “thank you” several times. If you always have difficulty writing your acknowledgement section, this article is meant for you. This handout is meant to assist any person that might be having a challenging time when it comes to writing their acknowledgement section for their paper.
Researchers believe that the acknowledgement section of a Ph.D. dissertation paper is usually the most read section, which is one of the reasons why people should take their time to learn how to write this section the correct way. Regardless of whether you believe it or not, the truth is that most of the people who assisted you in researching, gathering information, or paraphrasing and proofreading your work will check and see if they meant something to you.
When writing your acknowledgement section, you should write an exhaustive list of all the people with whom you wish to thank for assisting you. After coming up with a comprehensive list of all the people that assisted you, you should organize their names starting with those that directly assisted you in your project. If time allows, you might go further ahead and provide nice comments about the people that assisted you. For instance, maybe they assisted you in finding a particular source or they aided you in arranging your ideas.
You should not even fail to mention the librarian who assists you in locating the book you were searching for. The knowledge of the librarian should not be overestimated. On the same note, you should not overlook those people who assisted you in gaining practical experience. Some people also proceed to thank the people who gave them moral lessons as well as emotional support. This might include their colleagues, friends, spouses, or parents.
When it comes to most research papers, the acknowledgement section indicates the part of the project where the writer shows gratitude to the people who assisted them in completing their project. In simple terms, the section usually lists down all the people that might have contributed in the project, either directly or indirectly.
When it comes to academic writing, it is usually a great practice for the writer to acknowledge the contributions of different people, departments, or donors that have offered their assistance during the entire research process. It is essential to note that their contributions might be emotional, physical, financially, or maybe they gave you feedback on your manuscript during the drafting process.
In essence, it is true to state that acknowledgements offer the writer opportunities to thank all the people that assisted them in carrying out the research. The writer should offer careful thoughts and consideration on the people who should be acknowledged and in which order. It is essential that the process of giving appreciation be done in a concise manner without using too emotional tones or language.
How Long Should Acknowledgements be in Research Paper?
Generally, your acknowledgement section can be from one page to two pages long. When it comes to journal articles, it could be short since gratitude is offered to those people who have been of assistance. The acknowledgement section of books or dissertations, on the other hand, tends to be longer. In most cases, the publishers normally have standards and guidelines that govern the length of the acknowledgement. Some publishers will have guidelines on how the different contributors should be credited. In essence, there is no specific answer when it comes to the length of the acknowledgement section. However, evidence shows that it would be best if it were from one to two pages.
Where to Put Acknowledgements in a Research Paper?
An acknowledgement section is usually placed at the beginning of the research project, after the table of contents. When it comes to journal articles, most authors tend to place the acknowledgement section at the end of the paper, before the bibliography section. In some cases, the publisher might have a special formal requirement in regards to where the acknowledgement section should be placed.
Can you Use the First Person in the Acknowledgement in Research?
The general answer is a yes. An individual can use the first person in the acknowledgement section, even though the use of the first person is not usually allowed in academic writing. Apparently, it is one of those parts where the writer is allowed to express themselves in the first person while the rest of the paper, they are supposed to address themselves as well as other people in the third person.
Writing Your Dissertation Acknowledgement: Personal Gratitude
The majority of the dissertations or thesis will be made up of scientific, technical, and heady language. However, when it comes to the acknowledgement section, the situation will be completely opposite. It is essential to note that the acknowledgement section of most academic papers is usually found right before the first chapter and it is usually one of the easiest things to write. The good thing is that you could write your acknowledgement using simple and everyday language, which is easy for your audience to understand. The language you use does not have to be identical to the language you have used for your academic writing.
Despite the fact that most students can write the acknowledgement section of their dissertation within a short duration, writers must take their time to ensure that their writing always remains pure and heartfelt. On the same note, they should strive to avoid sounding arrogant or smug. According to researchers, you could include several names of the people who assisted you in your acknowledgement section. You should also be cautious so that you only include the names of the people who assisted you during your academic journey. This is because in most cases, the amount of space for the acknowledgement section is usually very limited. It is recommended that the section should be one page long, written in double spaced, and using the same font and size as one used in writing other parts of the paper.
Although some people state that your acknowledgement section could be as long as two pages, it is essential to note that in most cases, acknowledgements that are longer than one page will often wear down your professional readers as well as the review board. Apparently, the last thing you would want to do after spending too much time writing your dissertation paper is annoy the people who will be present to defend your paper. In the following section, there will be a discussion on who you should include when writing your acknowledgement section for your thesis or dissertation.
Read more: Samples of Acknowledgement for Thesis and Dissertation
Personal Acknowledgements
Before you can start writing the acknowledgement section of your dissertation paper, you need to take your time and make a list of all the people who are directly linked to your thesis or dissertation in one way or another. These people might have assisted you in creating your first draft, editing and proofreading your paper, or they might have spared their precious time to listen to your woes. Although what they might have done might appear as something just ordinary, you should never take it for granted at whichever time of your life. When it comes to family, friends, and relatives, you should list the people who were actively involved in your graduate studies. The sad truth is that you really do not have the space to include everyone you have ever spoken to ever since you began your thesis or dissertation a couple of months or years ago.
However, if you feel like there were people who really assisted you or inspired your work, you should not forget to include such people on your list of names. For instance, maybe you would wish to include your grandparents, whom you have never met, but was the first family member to graduate from college or university. In such a case, anytime you mention a person in your acknowledgement section, you should not forget to provide a small description of how they assisted you. In case you do not know, this will mean a lot to these people, and they will always be grateful that you managed to remember
However, if there were people who inspired your work, do not forget to include these people on your list of names. For example, you might want to include a grandfather whom you never met but who was the first member of your family to graduate from high school or college, maybe even under less than ideal circumstances. When you mention these people in your acknowledgements, remember to state specifically how they helped you. This will mean a lot to these people, and they will be grateful that you remembered exactly what they did for you along the way.
Professional Acknowledgements
When it comes to professional acknowledgement, you should take some time and look at the list containing the names of all the contributors. You should be sure to mention the names of the academia that assisted you in completing your thesis or dissertation. In most cases, you will only be left with the room for the major contributors and not your freshman teachers. Some of the professionals to include in the acknowledgement section may consist of your classmates, colleagues, librarians, lab assistants, upper-level professors, and advisors. You should not fail to mention any person that assisted you in researching, undertaking experiments, doing surveys, or simply writing anything important you might have wanted to be assisted with. For all the academic contributors with whom you wish to mention in your acknowledgement section, it would be best if you wrote their names in full as well as their titles. However, if you are mentioning your friends, you might use only their first names so that you can protect their identities. In situations where a large group of people assisted you, you might consider just mentioning the group of people.
